How to Eliminate Musty Basement Mold in Your Home

January 14th, 2015 admin

How do you know if you have mold in your basement? The truth is that finding out if your basement is wet and moldy is quite easy. If you visit your basement and you can feel the moisture in the air, or if you can visibly see mold, you can pretty much assume that you have a problem. However, there may be a scenario where you can’t see the mold and you can’t feel the moisture. If this is the case, you want to use your other senses. For instance, you want to sniff out the mold – it will often smell like mildew. Once you discover the mold, you want to do something about it. Here are some ways to eliminate musty basement mold in your home.

Open up the ventilation vents in your basement. One of the best ways to eliminate mold from your basement is to simply open up the windows or install a ventilation system. The truth is that mold thrives in dark spaces that don’t have ventilation. If you let a cool breeze through and some sunshine, mold won’t be able to proliferate.

Use a dehumidifier. Another way to reduce the mold is to reduce the moisture. The best way to do this is to install a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will literally suck the moisture out of the air so that it can’t collect on the walls, behind the walls, and on the floor. When it comes to purchasing a dehumidifier, you can install one that can be attached to your plumbing system, or you can go for a standalone unit. The former is usually the most expensive option.

Seal leaky pipes. It is also important to make sure that your pipes aren’t old or cracked. Some pipes can become rusty over time and can cause water to leak. Not only can this cause potential water damage – it can also cause moisture damage. This is exactly why you want to inspect your pipes. There may be an innocuous leak now, but it could get worse in the future – it is much smarter to simply bite the bullet and fix it before it is too late.

Have your basement waterproofed. If your basement has a chronic problem with moisture, you may need to waterproof your entire basement. A company like Stay Dry Basement Waterproofing will get deep inside the walls of your basement to make sure there are no moisture leaks. When it comes down to it, bringing in the big guns may be important if you are looking for a more permanent solution to your musty basement problems.

Use an air purifier. On top of everything, you also want to use an air purifier to keep the air inside your basement free of mold. After you take measures to reduce the amount of mold in the basement, there may be some spores floating around. If this is the case, you want an air purifier to filter out some of these harmful pollutants. In the end, an air purifier will make the air inside your basement clean and breathable.